Resilient-collar-type closure for steel shipping and other metallic containers



Dec. 8, 1959 KEPLINGER 2,916,311

RESILIENT- 1 TYPE CLOSURE FOR STEEL SHIPPING AND OTHER METALLIC CONTAINERS Filed Sept. 15, 1954 INVENTOR. LIVINGSTON B. KEPLINGER BY 5mg mhi-TL W WW HIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent RESILIENT-COLLAR-TYPE CLOSURE FOR STEEL SHIPPING AND OTHER METALLIC CON- TAINERS Livingston B. Keplinger, New York, N.Y., assignor to American Flange & Manufacturing Co., Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Application September 15, 1954, Serial No. 456,125

5 Claims. ((31. 28'5202) This invention relates to improvements in closure constructions for steel shipping containers and other metallic containers, particularly of the drum type, used for the shipment of various chemical and other products.

The conventional closure for the filling opening in containers of this sort consists of a removable plug screwed into a bushing or collar positioned in the opening in the container wall. The bushing is required because, although the container is of sheet metal of heavy gage, the wall is not sufficiently thick to carry the series of threads required to receive the threaded plug. The problem presented in mounting the bushing in the opening has long been recognized. The construction must result in a lealoproof closure, and the collar or bushing must be so firmly secured in place as to prevent any loosening of the collar when a wrench is applied to the plug to set it up tight, or to remove it.

Because of the difficulty in making a liquid-tight joint between the marginal metal of the container opening and the bushing or collar, it has heretofore been proposed to so arrange the joint that the flange on the plug, or the inner face of the plug, will seat against the material of the container wall itself rather than against the metal of the collar or bushing. Many attempts have been made to provide a closure construction of this sort, but they all are objectionable for one reason or another, and particularly because of excessive cost of manufacture. Attempts have also been made to unite the collar or bushing to the wall of the container by the use of welding, so that the closure face of the plug may cooperate with a seat on the collar, but so far as I am aware, none of these prior constructions has been successful commercially.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a closure construction of general application which will avoid the difficulties of the prior constructions, including those above mentioned, and which will be economical to manufacture.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a closure construction in which the collar or bushing is secured in position in the opening of the container by Welding.

Another object of the invention is to provide a closure construction wherein the closing of the plug, either its inner face or an outer annular flange, against the metal of the container itself, is not required, and which, nevertheless, may be used for hard-to-package liquids without leakage.

Another object of the invention is to provide a closure construction for steel shipping containers wherein no gasket is required between the plug and collar.

Container closures for metallic shipping drums as heretofore proposed have been applied to the container prior to the formation of the container, and another object of the invention is to provide a closure construction which the manufacturer can apply to the finished container.

It is customary to line steel drum containers for transporting hard-to-package chemicals, such, for example, as

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alkalis, dilute mineral acids, chlorinated solvents, and the like, by spraying or otherwise coating the interior surface of the drum with a suitable material, such for example as certain thermosetting resinous compounds. However, it is necessary in the manufacture of these drum containers, to apply the coating material prior to the application of the closure construction to the drum. The coating material has sometimes been applied by surface coating, and sometimes by spraying, but in either case, no satisfactory closure structure has heretofore been devised that will not damage such coating around the periphery of the closure aperture during the application of the closure construction to the drum.

Accordingly, it is also an object of the present invention to provide a closure construction which can be applied to the drum without damaging such coating. Other objects of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following description of the improved closure construction, as illustrated by way of example in the several embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

In these drawings: Fig. 1 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line 1--1 of Fig. 2 illustrating the improved closure construction mechanically applied to the head of a steel drum shown in upright position;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the closure construction shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section of certain of the parts shown in Fig. 1 to illustrate the manner of applying the closure construction to the container;

Figs. 4 and 5 are views similar to Fig. 3 showing a modified form of such closure construction;

Fig. 6 is a plan view similar to Fig. 2 showing another form of such closure construction;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 77 of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view explanatory of the constructions previously illustrated;

Figs. 9 and 10 are views corresponding to Figs. 4 and 5 showing a form of the improved closure construction Welded to the wall of the container;

Fig. 11 is a view showing a modified form of this welded closure structure; and

Figs. 12, 13 and 14 are similar sectional views illustrating three additional modifications of the welded type of closure. The forms of the invention wherein the collar or bushing member is mechanically united to the metal of the container surrounding the filling opening, will first be described, these forms being shown in Figs. 1-8, inclusive. Although illustrated in the head the filling opening may be in the side wall of the container. Referring first to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the cylindrical side member of a steel drum is indicated by reference numeral 1., and the head by numeral 2. These parts are secured together by a conventional double seam joint 3.

The orifice or opening in which the closure construction is mounted is provided with an upstanding external flange 4 projecting outwardly substantially parallel with the axis of the orifice. In the form of the invention shown in Figs. l3 the orifice is elliptical in form and consequently. flange 4 is elliptical (Fig. 2). Mounted within this orifice there is a collar member 5 of a suitable molded plastic material, advantageously polyethylene. This collar is of elliptical shape and with an outer surface constructed to make a press fit with the inner sur- 3. conventional thread and receives a plug member 7 (also, advantageously, of polyethylene), which is correspondingly threaded and which is provided at its upper end with alateral flange 8.to seat againstthe flat upper surface 9' of collar member when the plug is screwed home. The outer surface of plug 7 may be recessed as indicated at 10 and provided with inwardly projecting lugs 11 for the application of a wrench. The collar 5 is somewhat resilient, so a gasket is not necessary even though a metallic plug is used.

The upstanding flange 4 around the aperture in head 2 is of substantial width and, advantageously this width may correspond approximately with the depth of the recess formed in the head 2 by the joint 3 with the cylindrical side member 1 of the drum. It will be understood that flange 4 can be varied to suit particular conditions, such for example as to control the overall exterior height of the closure, or to limit the length of draw required to form the head flange.

The plastic collar member 5 is of such thickness that as shown it projectssomewhat above the edge of flange 4, although this is not necessary. Extending outwardly around the entire periphery of collar member 5 there is a collar flange member 12 of steel or other suitable metal. The inner marginal portion 13 of this flange member is turned downwardly forming, advantageously, the segment of a cone which isembedded in the mass of the molded plasticcollar member 5.

Flange member 12 extends over the upper edge of flange 4 and then turns downwardly, being provided with a skirt portion 14 which is parallel with and spaced from the outer surface of collar member 5 by substantially the thickness of flange 4 on the drum head 2. That is to say, the skirt portion 14 of flange member 12 is spaced some whatfrom the outer vertical surface of plastic collar member 5 to form a peripheral recess elliptical in outline to receive the elliptical head flange 4. The parts are assembled as shown in Fig. 3 by placing the collar 5 and flange member 12 over the upstanding flange 4 and working the parts together until the upper edge of flange 4 is seated against the inner surface of the laterally projecting portion of flange member 12, as shown.

In order to mechanically unite the thus engaged parts, a suitable crimping or rolling tool is now applied to the exterior surface of the flange skirt portion 14, and this skirt portion and upstanding flange 4 are rolled or crimped into intimate contact with each other as shown by the series of interfitting ridges and grooves 15 in Fig. 1. Plug 7 should be in place in the collar during this operation to reinforce the collar member. The plug has an unusually thick web in order to give it suflicient strength to withstand the tool pressure. The crimping action forces the inner surface of flange 4 against the surface of the plastic collar 5 and the inner surface of skirt portion 14 against the outer surface of flange 4 so as to make a joint which will be tight against the passage of many hard-to-package chemicals.

By means of this joint the walls of the peripheral recess are united to the surfaces of flange 4 by the internal ridge formed in the outer or collar flange shown in Fig. l which is in intimate contact with a similarly shaped groove in the outer surface of flange 4. Again the inner surface of flange 4 contains a peripheral ridge which is in intimate contact with a peripheral groove formed in the outer surface of the plastic collar member 5. The upper portion of the internal ridge in the skirt portion 14 of the collar flange may be referred to asan inward bend which securely grips the outer surface of the groove formed in flange 4. Similarly, the bend in flange 4 ex tends into and grips the surface of the groove formed in the plastic member 5. The collar is made of a plastic material which possesses a degree of elasticity or resilience which aids in maintaining the surfaces-of these interfitting grooves and recess in intimate contact with one another to form the. liquid-tight joint.- The conical inner portion 13 of flange member 12 being embedded in the molded plastic of collar 5 a liquid-tight joint exists between the metal and .the plastic.

In manufacturing the plastic collar member 5 and flange member 12 combination, the flange member is placed in the collar member mold and the plastic material, for example polyethylene, is molded around all sides of the conical portion 13 of the flange member, leaving the horizontal portion and skirt portion 14 projecting from and the latter portion spaced from the outer surface of the collar. Advantageously, the conical portion 13 of flange member 12 may be provided with a series of spaced apertures 16, as shown in Fig. 8, and during the molding operation the plastic material will fill these apertures as shown at 17 to firmly anchor the metal member in the plastic so that there can be no relative movement between them as, for example, when a wrench is applied to the plug or cap member 7 for the purpose of tightening or removing this member.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5, the modified form of closure construction here shown is similar to that described above, except that the plastic collar member 5a is formed with a small bead or rib 18 projecting around its outer surface and directly beneath the laterally projecting portion of flange member 12a. Also flange 4a is somewhat smaller than flange 4 and abuts against the bead 18. This bead is somewhat thicker than flange 4a as indicated in Fig. 4, and consequently the laterally projecting portion of flange member 12a is somewhat Wider than the corresponding part of flange member 12. Thus when the crimping or rolling tool is applied to form the series of interfitting ridges and grooves 15a, the material of rib 18 acts somewhat like a gasket. That is to say, the outer portion of bead 18 is squeezed tightly against the surfaces of the flange 4a and skirt portion 14. In fact, the lower portion of bead 18 may be squeezed partially between the upright surfaces of flange 4a and skirt 14.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1-5 the elliptical outline of the collar member 5 prevents relative turning movement between this member and the drum head 2 during tightening or removal of the plug and thus prevents weakening of the rolled or crimped joints 15 and 15a. In the remaining forms of the invention it will be presently seen that such relative movement is prevented in other ways.

In the modification of Figs. 6 and 7, the closure construction is very similar to that of Figs. 1-3, except that the elliptical formation of the plastic collar member is replaced by a polygonal (preferably octagonal) formation 28 on the lower portion of the plastic collar member 50, the upper portion 29 thereof being circular and substantially tangent to extensions of the apices of the polygonal lower portion. The upstanding flange around the orifice in drum head 2a is formed with a lower section 30 which fits the polygonal lower part 28 of the plastic collar member 5e. The upper portion 31 of the upstanding head flange is circular and the skirt portion 14b of the flange member 12:: is somewhat shorter than the skirt portion 14 of flange member 12, as shown in Fig. 7.

With this arrangement, when the plastic collar member Se is press-fitted into the orifice, its eight-sided lower portion interfits with the eight-sided lower portion 30 of the head flange, and the upper circular portion 31 of this flange enters the circular or annular recess formed between the skirt portion 14b of flange 12e and the outer circular portion of collar member 5e. When the parts are in place, they are in the condition shown in Fig. 7, and a crimping tool similar to that used in connection with Figs. l-3 is applied to form a joint consisting of a series of interfitting ridges and grooves similar to joint 15 described in connection with Fig. 1, this formation not being illustrated in connection with Figs. 6 and 7.

Although the molded plastic collar is formed advantageously of polyethylene, it will be understood that other chemically inert molded plastic materials having some degree of elasticity and resiliency may be employed.

. The modified constructions shown in Figs. 9, and 11 are also similar to those previously described in that the collar member of the closure construction is provided with a flange member projecting from its outer surface, the difference being that the collar member is of metal throughout instead of being of part plastic material and part metal. Figs. 9 and 10, like Figs. 4 and 5, show the parts of one form of this closure before and after they are mechanically united together, and Fig. 11 shows a welded construction.

Referring to Fig. 9, the collar member 5 is of suitable metal, such as steel, and is threaded to receive a closing plug as described above. At its upper end collar member Si is provided with a flange member 12 which like flange 12a of Fig. 4, projects laterally from the collar member and then turns downwardly in a skirt portion 14c in parallel and spaced relation to the outer cylindrical surface of collar member 5 The drum head 2 is provided with an upstanding flange 4 like the flange of Figs. l3. With this construction since the parts are all of metal, a gasket 32 of suitable compressible material is placed between the upper rim of flange 4 and the cylindrical surface of collar member 5 A crimping tool is applied around the exterior surface of skirt portion 14c which forces the lower portion of both this skirt and flange 4 against the side surface of the collar member 5 as shown in Fig. 10, to unite the parts and form a tight joint between the collar member and the flange 4.

In the modified form of Fig. 11, the collar member 5g is provided with an annular flange member 12g which projects laterally and outwardly parallel with the drum head 2. The upstanding flange 4c of the drum head is provided with an upper annular portion 33 which is parallel and has the same outside diameter as the edge of flange member 12g. These two parts are united by weld metal 34.

It will be understood that the flange members 12f and 12g of the constructions of Figs. 9 and 11, respectively, may be formed integral with the metallic collar members 5] and 5g, or that these flange members may be made separately and mounted on the outer peripheries of their respective collar members by means of welding, or otherwise.

Referring to the modifications shown in Figs. 12, 13 and 14, the general construction is similar to that above described in connection with Figs. 1-5, the difference being in the means by which the projecting flange member is secured or united to the upstanding flange of the drum head member. In the constructions shown in Figs. l-S, this is done mechanically by means of a rolling or crimping tool, as described, whereas in the constructions of Figs. 12, 13 and 14 it is accomplished by welding. In Figs. 12 and 13 also the shape of the embedded portion of the flange member is somewhat changed. Thus in Fig. 12 the flange member 12b has a peripheral portion 19 which projects outwardly from the surface of the plastic collar member 5b, and a downwardly extending cylindrical portion 20 entirely within the plastic collar.

The upstanding flange 4b on the drum head 2 is rolled outwardly to form a radial portion 21 which is parallel with portion 19 of flange 12b. The edges of these two portions are of the same diameter, and after pressfitting the plastic collar 5b in the orifice, these two proximate edges are united by welding, as indicated at 22. In Fig. 12 flange 4b is made short so that collar 5b projects into the container. It can also be made flush with the container wall as in Fig. 13.

In Fig. 13 the drum head flange 40 may be identical with flange 4, although as shown, it projects somewhat higher and above the top of the rim of head 2. In this construction also the flange member 12c is in general like the flange member 12b in Fig. 12, except that the portion 23 projects outwardly and upwardly at the corner of the molded plastic collar 50 into substantially parallel relation with the upper portion of flange 40. These parts 23 and 4c are then united by the welding indicated at 24.

In Fig. 14 the construction is similar to Fig. 13, except that the flange member 12d has a conical lower portion 25, similar to the conical section 13 of Figs. 1-5, and an upright cylindrical portion 26 which projects outwardly from the plastic collar member 50! at its upper corner. This portion extends parallel to and in contact with the upper margin of drum head flange 4d, which is substantially like the flange 4c of Fig. 13. Welding 27 is applied around the upper adjacent edges of portion 26 and flange 4d.

The purpose of the flanged construction and the placing of the weld metal at the peripheral edges of the contiguous flanges is to enable the welding operation to be accomplished without damage to the plastic collars 5a, 5b and 50, or distortion of collar 5g.

vWith the welded forms the elliptical or polygonal collar outlines are, of course, not necessary.

When the closure constructions of the present invention are used, the interior surface of the drum container may be sprayed to provide the desired lining or coating for protection of the metal of the drum against attacks of hard-to-package chemicals, or the metal may be surface-coated for the same purpose prior to fabrication, and the closure construction of the invention applied to the container as the last step in its manufacture. Since the closure construction is applied from the outside of the container, no injury to the surface of the protective coating occurs.

While the closure construction of the present invention has been illustrated in a number of different modi fications, it will be understood that still further changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, which is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In closure construction for metallic drum containers, a collar member of resilient plastic material having a cylindrical exterior of substantially uniform diameter throughout and being formed with a threaded central aperture to receive a closure plug and a metallic sleeve member surrounding said collar member substantially uniformly spaced therefrom and extending through a substantial portion of the height thereof, said sleeve member having an inturned head around the upper end thereof and terminating in a securing rim, said securing rim extending into and being embedded in said collar member whereby a substantially uniform cylindrical recess is formed between the outer surface of said collar member and the inner surface of said sleeve, and a container Wall formed with an orifice therein and having a substantially cylindrical flange of substantially uniform thickness extending outwardly around said orifice, the thickness of said flange and the width of said recess being substantially the same, said collar having the principal portion thereof seated within said flange with said flange received in said recess and said sleeve and said flange being annularly deflected with said flange extending into interlocking engagement with the material of said collar from the outer surface thereof, whereby said collar member may be applied to said container body flange from the outside of said container after said container is otherwise completed, and a tight joint may be made between said flange and said collar.

2. Closure construction as in claim 1, said interengagement of said sleeve and flange including mated inwardly extending ribs of said sleeve and said flange, said inwardly extending rib of said flange seating in the material of said collar.

3. Closure construction as in claim 1, said collar member having a radially outwardly extending rim adjacent the upper end thereof, said flange terminating in a free '7 end face and said rim overlying and interengaged with said free end face of said flange.

4. Closure construction as in claim 1, said collar member having an extended exterior portion adjacent its lower end formed with a polygonal contour and said flange being formed with a portion formed to mate with said polygonal contour of said collar.

5. In closure construction for metallic containers, a collar member of resilient plastic material having a cylindrical exterior and being formed with a threaded center aperture to receive a closure plug, a metallic sleeve member surrounding said collar member uniformly spaced therefrom and extending throughout a substantial portion of the height thereof, said sleeve member having an inturned bead extending continuously around the upper end thereof and terminating in an inwardly extending securing rim, said securing, rim extending into and being embedded in said collar.member, a container wall formed with an orificeitherein and having a substantially cylindrical flange extending.upwardly around said orifice, said flange being seatedin the recess between said collar member and .said sleeve, said sleeve and said flange being formed withmated inwardly deflected annular ribs, the rib of said flange extending into the material of said collar, said rib securing said members together in leakproof engagement and said flange, throughout the extent thereof, being internally engaged by the cylindrical exterior of said collar member and being exteriorly engaged by the inner surface of said sleeve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

